Floor Damage Around The Tub

Shiplap that served as the subfloor.

Floor damage around the tub.

Subfloor damage in the bathroom usually comes from a leaking toilet but it can also be the result of a persistent sink drain leak or even a drip behind. Then added sisters to damaged floor joists and framing around edge of bathroom. My floor had several layers of flooring plus rotted subfloor. A toilet would actually never leak right onto the floor.

In the worst case scenario the damage is so severe that the floor gives way sending the bath tub toilet or shower stall crashing down to the floor below. Pulling back more of the underlayment revealed that the water fueled damage spread more than eight feet along the wall. Mark a line where the front edge of the tub rested on the floor or at least 2 inches beyond the damaged. Cut into the floor or wall to investigate further.

These clients say that caulking around the base of the toilet would trap water from a leaking toilet causing damage below and around the toilet since it has no place to leak onto the floor. The floor can feel extremely spongy where it s damaged. Mark a line on the floor 2 inches inside the wall along the back and sides of the tub area. Although that theory makes sense it is in fact a false statement.

Let the area dry the area for the minimum of what the moldicide recommends which is usually at least 24 hours before applying new caulk. Water may have saturated the drywall that sits behind the tub s surround damaged the subfloor or even helped start mold growth in the wall or subfloor. When moisture gets under the tub or shower basin or between the shower liner and the wall it encourages mold and mildew to form which eventually leads to wood rot in walls and the subfloor. If you see mold forming around where your floor and tub meet treat it with a mold killer after removing the existing caulk or grout.

It didn t take much to dig up some of the flooring plywood underlayment and the 3 4 in. The worst of the subfloor damage was found with a foot going through the floor. A spongy rv floor signals that there s damage that has led to rot which may be due to a water leak or other mechanical failure. Run on top of the center of a floor.

How to repair a rotted bathroom subfloor. Your rv s floor quite literally holds you up while you walk around inside the rig not to mention all those heavy pieces of furniture and appliances. Set a carpenter s square or straightedge on the floor well past the bad section in front of the tub.